Friday, August 26, 2011

Blue Skies Tomorrow

Blue Skies Tomorrow is the third book in the Wings of Glory series written by Sarah Sundin, and it looks at the life of the eldest Novak brother, Lieutenant Raymond Novak. Ray is a fighter pilot teacher throughout WWII, but as requirements change, and teaching becomes a reward for those returning from the front lines of battle, Ray finds himself relegated to an air depot near his hometown. It’s during a weekend home that he runs into Helen Carlisle, a recently widowed mother, who he knew as a young girl. As his and Helen’s relationship develops, Ray begins to question his reasons for not fighting on the front lines as do his brothers.

I really enjoyed this book, and I especially liked the way Helen was described as always having to put on an act: the grieving widow, the devoted mother, the perfect volunteer, and, in the past, a devoted and loving wife. It’s interesting to see how her “acting the part” caused tension and strain in her life and how she was able to overcome this feeling that she needs to act a certain way. I think this is very relevant for many people today, as acting a certain way seems to be the norm of how society expects people to be. This act was also displayed with Ray, as he had to act tough and brave when facing battle. They both felt as if they had to act a certain way to please others.

Both of the characters were easy to relate to, and I also enjoyed the historical aspects of the book. World War II is one of my favorite times to read about, and the book did not disappoint. Although I have read the second book in the series, I think it would still be easily understandable for people to read this book as a stand-alone. I cannot wait to read more books by Sarah Sundin and learn more lessons from the characters she chooses to write about!

“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Revell book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."